Takis Fuego is a pork meat stick from the popular Cattleman’s Cut line of meat snacks. The Spanish translation for fuego is fire. One translation of takis is a Mexican brand of corn tortilla chips. This Takis Fuego pork stick brand is distributed under the name of 2021 Cattleman’s Cut, and it is located in Kent, Washington, USA. This Takis Fuego pork stick brand is manufactured by the private labeler company Oberto Brands, and it is located in Kent, Washington.
The first review on Takis Fuego will focus on a 1 ounce/28 gram bag of their Hot Chili Pepper & Lime flavored pork stick. This bag was purchased at a Family Dollar store in Lewiston, New York, USA.
Ingredient Review
Pork, Water, Encapsulated Citric Acid, Salt, Corn Flour, Sugar, Spices, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract, Monosodium Glutamate, Corn Syrup Solids, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Red 40 Lake, Soybean Oil, Natural Flavorings, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Glutamate, Extractives of Paprika, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Lime Juice Solids, Yellow 5 Lake, BHA, BHT, Sodium Diacetate, Citric Acid, Lime Oil, Lime Juice, Canola Oil, Salt. Made in Colored Beef Collagen Casing (FD&C Red #3). Allergen Warnings: Soy
The pork used is guaranteed to be raised ethically with no antibiotics and no added hormones. This pork is not guaranteed at least partial free range access to roam outside. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
Some healthy ingredients added are spices, including garlic powder and onion powder. The vague term natural flavorings is used, which may or may not include healthy ingredients.
The artificial colors red #40 and yellow #5 are used to lose a rating.
To protect freshness and flavor, carcinogenic BHA and BHT are used to lose a rating.
The sugar level is great at 0 grams of sugar per 28 grams of pork stick. The salt level is acceptable at 320mg of salt per 28 grams of pork stick.
This pork stick does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite as sodium nitrite is used outright as a preservative along with sodium diacetate to lose a rating.
The pork stick does not qualify to have no MSG added as monosodium glutamate is used outright to lose a rating. Unhealthy flavor enhancers disodium inosinate and disodium glutamate are used, which work synergistically together to lose another rating. The highly processed, cheap flavor enhancer hydrolyzed corn protein is used to lose another rating.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
TAKIS FUEGO – HOT CHILI PEPPER & LIME PORK STICK
Written by guest meat stick reviewer Paul Rekker
When I bite open the packaging I smell the vinegar. The meat stick (pepperette) is shaped just like pretty much all other meat sticks.
When I bite into the meat stick, I almost immediately pick up on the hot chili peppers AND the lime. I am also tasting salt, pepper, slight garlic, also sight sweet but well within reason. I also taste the vinegar, which is quite prominent.
The meat stick is relatively soft, chewy, and flavorful. I am not noticing any “snap” from the collagen casing, which is justification for deducting a point. Other than that, this meat stick comes across exactly as described. I see no reason not to award a very respectable 9/10. Gentlemen
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The Takis Fuego Hot Chili Pepper and Lime Meat Stick has a noticeable spiciness without going overboard. This is a tasty meat stick. I like the spiciness paired with a nice splash of lime, as it brightens the flavor profile. This stick is noticeably oily or greasy and has a chemical-like taste. The meat stick smells like most any meat stick, and the aroma is rather unremarkable.
The texture of Takis Fuego Hot Chili Pepper and Lime Meat Stick texture is soft and pasty. In my opinion, this texture is a turn-off, and it does not carry the mouth feel of a better or higher quality product.
Overall, this meat stick is OK. I am not blown away, and I rate this meat stick 8/10 Taste Rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this hot chili pepper & lime pork stick flavor from Takis Fuego: “Thanks for the honest taste reviews Paul and Stéphane. I lean here with Stéphane. The level of lime is good, and there is a slight touch of spiciness. The greasiness of this meat stick was offputting at first. In no way would I describe this meat stick as a clean eating experience. The various flavor enhancers overpower the flavors, arguably too much. True in that there is an abnormal unnatural chemical taste present”.
“No ‘snap’ is present in this meat stick’s texture. There is little to no sweetness present, and the saltiness is at a good level. Overall, this meat stick delivers on the lime aspect, barely delivers on the spiciness, but has an unnatural taste and feel. With Paul at a 9 rating and myself and Stéphane at an 8 rating, a Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 1 ounce/28 gram meat stick costs $1.00. That rates as a cheap price.
Bag Review
The plastic bag has everything imprinted directly on the front and nothing on the back. There is a picture of a hot chili pepper and lime slice with fire in the background. This bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep a product fresh tasting.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed on this bag are “Inspired by the Intensity of Takis Fuego”, “BHA & BHT Added to Protect Flavor”, and “Artificially Colored”.
There are no bag categories missing. To the credit of Takis Fuego, a toll free phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
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